Immigrant Rights Impact Litigation

MIRC engages in impact work addressing key immigrant rights issues in the state of Michigan. As part of these efforts, MIRC staff directly represents clients facing barriers to realizing their rights and accessing services due to their immigration status, and also generates legal analysis of policies that have the potential to adversely impact the immigrant community. MIRC places special emphasis on issues affecting immigrant children and the children of immigrants.

For example, MIRC is currently co-counseling a case American Civil Liberties Union alleging violation of the constitutional rights of a Lawful Permanent Resident and U.S. citizen client to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). In addition, MIRC recently filed complaints of discrimination with the Office of Civil Rights within the Department of Health and Human Services. These complaints allege that the Michigan Department of Human Services is violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by discriminating against U.S. citizen children of immigrants in a number of programs, including Medicaid and child support.

MIRC staff members also frequently generate timely legislative updates, policy updates, and educational issue briefs analyzing proposals and policies that have the potential to adversely affect children and their families. We distribute that information to the public and our community partners